Jeep Cherokee Returns for 2026 with Standard Hybrid Power

After a three-year hiatus, the Jeep Cherokee as back and Jeep has bestowed upon it the most technologically advanced powertrain it’s ever had.

It will be available only as a hybrid and more precisely, a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo with an EV motor good for a combined 210 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque as well as over 800 km of range. It’s the first time the Jeep brand has had an HEV in the North American market (they’ve had plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for a while, however) and Jeep claims a fuel appetite of a paltry 6.4L/100 km. That’s pretty good for a mid-size crossover that comes standard with turbo power and all-wheel-drive.

“There’s no plug, but lots of adventure,” said Bob Broderdorf, CEO at Jeep.

To help with the adventure, each Cherokee sold gets rear-axle disconnect as standard, as well as four-mode Select-Terrain terrain management system and best-in-class approach and departure angles. Add eight inches of ground clearance and this is a crossover worthy of the Jeep name. An even more off-road ready and Trail Rated Trailhawk version is also on the way.

While this latest Cherokee is longer, taller and wider than the previous model, lead designer Vincent Galante and his team have given it distinctly Jeep styling cues such as a seven-slat grille and squared-off fenders surrounding rugged wheels that measure 17- 18- or 20”. Other rugged adds include robust lower bumpers and side skirts, as well as heavy-duty roof rails and somewhat scowling headlights with LED DRLs.

Inside, there’s more space than ever before both in terms of occupant space and cargo space and recycled materials are used for the carpets and other interior panels. In the name of sustainability, there will be no real leather on offer; just synthetic fabric that includes some perforation on the front seats.

The Cherokee had to be rugged but it also had to have the interior tech that buyers in this segment crave. In that light, Jeep is fitting a 10.25” instrument cluster, a 12.3” infotainment display, blind spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert and driver attentiveness detection all as standard. Optional adds include a dual-pane sunroof, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, front tire-to-curb view, 360-degree parking camera and more.

The 2026 Jeep Cherokee will be offered in four trims in Canada, ranging in price from $39,995 to $53,995: Cherokee, Laredo, Limited and Overland. It will arrive in dealerships in late 2025.